With billions of dollars in contracting opportunities at stake, the “DGS How to do Business with the State of California” webinar in three parts, provided an extensive overview on how small businesses can get certified and start bidding to get their share of the thousands of contracts with the State of California.   

Hosted by the Los Angeles Latino Chamber of Commerce, the webinars presented topics on Certification Eligibility, Certification Benefits, Cal eProcure, Small Business and Disabled Veterans Business Enterprises. The Small Business eligibility requirements include the small business must be independently owned and operated, not a dominant field of operation, the principal office must be in California, Owners (or officers for a corporation) domiciled in California, have 100 or fewer employees, Gross annual receipts less than $16 million dollars, and if a manufacturer, 100 or fewer employees and no gross annual receipts of more than $37 million (with affiliates).  

The informative webinars were presented by the Office of Small Business and DVBE Services Business Outreach Liaison, Marvin Manuel, who gave an online tour of the small business website and showed participants how to navigate the California State Government Marketplace (CSGM) website to locate contract opportunities and the “dos and don’ts” to have the best chances for securing winning contracts.  CSGM is the website for the State’s Procurement and Certifications Programs.  

In case you missed it, the 3-part webinar is available for viewing on the LALCC website and LALCC YouTube Channel.  

Written by Mario Uribe, LA Latino Chamber Director, Communications Strategist

The Los Angeles Latino Chamber of Commerce  Board Directors, Community Activist and Hollywood Producer Moctesuma Esparza’s 1982 iconic film “The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez” was recently recognized and honored by being added to the National Registry of Film as a landmark Chicano film and for being a truly authentic Western classic.  The film features Edward James Olmos and is one of the most important Chicano produced films in Hollywood. 

“We need to be able to have an example of what can be done, which is the incredible achievement that Eddie Olmos and our incredible team did with ‘The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez,” Esparza said.    

Talking about the shortage of Chicano directors and representation in Hollywood, Esparza recently said in an interview with Spectrum, “We’re looking to be able to create this pipeline so that students can start learning filmmaking in junior high school, high school, undergraduate, and get to the top film schools in the country for graduate programs, which is where people’s careers really get launched. There are fewer Mexican-Americans at UCLA film school than when I was in film school 50 years ago. So, this is a real problem,” Esparza said. 

A graduate of UCLA and born and raised in Los Angeles, Esparza is also known for the commercially successful films “Selena” and “Introducing Dorothy Dandridge.”  Esparza said it was always his dream to have “an impact on Hollywood and to be able to affect the image and portrayal of Mexican-Americans and Latinos in Hollywood.”  

Each year, the National Film Registry (NFR) selects 25 films showcasing the range and diversity of American film heritage to increase awareness for its preservation. The NFR is part of the Library of Congress and the National Film Preservation Board (NFPB), originally created by the National Film Preservation Act of 1988. With inclusion of Esparza’s film, “The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez” joins other important films added to the NFR like “Grease,” “Amadeus,” “Titanic,” and “The Silence of the Lambs.”  

 Written by Mario Uribe, Director, Communications Strategiest, LA Latino Chamber

This year marks the celebration of Dolores Huerta's 95th Birthday.  The celebration took place at the California Museum in Sacramento.  Our Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass joined the festivities of the Dolores Huerta Reception.

Our Co-Chair of the Corporate Advisory Board Anna Sauceda and key Chamber supporters from AT&T, Alice Perez and Susan Santana, and Esmeralda John Pena, Vanir, extended the invitation to attend. We applaud AT&T for being a contributor to the work of the Dolores Huerta Foundation as they enter their 20th year.

Such a special evening! Vanir Chairwoman and CEO Dorene Dominguez, a University of Notre Dame alumna, current board member of the Los Angeles Latino Chamber of Commerce, and current board member and founder of The Dominguez Dream in Memory of H. Frank Dominguez, was honored to co-host a celebratory event for scholars who were recently accepted to the University.

Together, Dorene and her co-host, Notre Dame Vice President for Undergraduate Enrollment Micki Kidder, congratulated the students, many of whom attend Nicholas Academic Centers, on their incredible accomplishment and welcomed them and their parents to the Fighting Irish family.

Vanir was excited to attend the ribbon cutting of the Santa Monica College and Malibu campus sheriff substation this last Saturday. This facility is a classroom facility providing general education classes and a substation for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. Vanir provided program, project and construction management services for Santa Monica Community College’s Bond Construction Program passed in November 2016.

Congratulations to Chamber member Denise Gutierrez, President and CEO and the team at the California Council on Economic Education on an amazing evening celebrating community leaders and individuals. Awards: Tony Thurman, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Excellence in Leadership Award, U.S. Bank, Corporate Excellence Award, Ben Bergstrom, Excellence in Teaching Award, and Rosario Marin, 41 Treasurer of the United States, Life Time Achievement Award. CCEE is the only nonprofit that teaches economics and financial literacy to K-12, and gives equity and access to financial literacy.

They have also served over 300,000 students through their program. You have to applaud the CCEE team and supporters for enriching the lives of families. Most importantly, they give every student in California a chance to succeed.

Continuing the work of the Chamber!

Our Chairman Darrel Sauceda and Julian Canete, President and CEO of the California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce, testified at our State Capital in support of California AB 1392 - Diversity in Hospital Supplier Procurement. This legislation would require large hospitals to submit a plan to the Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) to increase procurement for minority women, LGBTQ and Disabled Veteran Business Enterprises  (MWDVLGBTBE). 

In addition, hospitals would also need to publicize available, verifiable and detailed plans and goals for access to procurement contracts and have a pathway for minority businesses to partner with hospitals. 

Mid-April, a small delegation from the Los Angeles Latino Chamber of Commerce (LALCC) attended a luncheon "Understanding California's Energy Market Supply & Demand & Our Energy" in the City of Carson. The invitation was extended by Chamber member Brissa Sotelo-Vargas, Director, of Community Relations & Government Affairs at Valero Energy Corporation who shared the importance of energy in the State of California. 

This informative session was led by Cathy Reheis-Boyd, President of Western States Petroleum Association who provided great insight into California Energy market. Did you know 1) California is the largest jet fuel consumer, 2) Diesel Fuel is the second largest fuel used in California and 3) California is the 3rd largest gasoline-consuming market on the planet. Insight on energy legislation was also discussed as well as the future of energy production in the state. Over 100 organizations and companies attended this session, representing thousands of jobs in the state.

Verizon Small Business Digital Ready (VSBDR) provides personalized content, coaching, community and more to help move your business forward. VSBDR includes courses designed to provide essential knowledge and tools, including topics such as developing a marketing strategy, marketing with influencers, creating a content calendar, and the basics of building your business website.

The free portal also includes access to mentorship, providing small business owners with the opportunity to obtain ongoing advice and support from experienced professionals who can help them overcome business challenges. Spanish language course offerings, coaching from experts and community events are also available.

Small businesses have the opportunity to apply for a $10K grant through May 12, 2023, by taking 2 courses which will then open the portal to the grant.  You can view the webinar HERE.

The FEMME Power CONFAB and Retreat 2023 was a powerful reminder of the groundbreaking contributions of successful women entrepreneurs, civic leaders, sports leaders, music and media artists from an assortment of backgrounds, experiences and industries. Many LALCC members attended and helped organize the event.

To the delight and cheers from the women in attendance, the FEMME retreat was “A call to action to bring 300 of the most amazing women together to be part of a two-day experience like no other in LA” said Anna Sauceda, Co-Chair of LALCC Corporate Advisory Board, during the motivational “T-Shirts & Sneakers Salute to CEOS Power Reception” program. “This is for you,” Anna Sauceda told the enthusiastic FEMME audience during her remarks.

The highlights of the two-day event, included electrifying speeches and performances by Dolores Huerta, civil rights advocate, musical icon Sheila E, appearances by Diana Flores, Flag Football Global Ambassador, the Mariachi Divas, a golf clinic, and a Healing Journey workshop. The closing night award ceremony was hosted by Mario Lopez, actor and TV host.

Sheila E. was presented with the Muse Lifetime Achievement Award. Other awards were presented to civil rights activist Dolores Huerta, The Fighter Award; Hip Hop pioneer MC LYTE, the Living Legend Award; and Mexican flag football champion Diana Flores, the Groundbreaker Award.

Held at the Langham Hotel in Pasadena, the Retreat opened on Wednesday, March 29, with an “R&R or Relax and Revive” schedule. The next day the retreat went into full FEMME Power mode with a full schedule of workshops, presentations, luncheon, inspirational talks, Swag Lounge, the FEMME Legacy Awards ceremony and a Concert with a soul-shaking, foot-stomping closing performance by Sheila E.

As part of the business educational Webinar series, LALCC recently partnered with the Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) to provide information on the County’s Small Business Concierge, APEX Accelerator Program for contracting, Certification information on how to pursue government contracts and Human Resources information about Fair Chance Hiring.

The informative webinar provided unique insights about LA County sponsored certification and contracting opportunities to Small Business Owners. The Fair Chance portion provided information on interviewing tips and financial incentives connected re-entry job-seekers. The webinar started with welcoming remarks by LALCC Chairman Darrel Sauceda, and was hosted by LALCC Operations and Program Manager Olivia E. Rios.

Santiago Orosco, APEX Accelerator Counselor, provided information on the 3 steps to certify with the Office of Small Business for seven different certification programs. The 3 steps are 1) Get registered as a Vendor, 2) Claim your Certification Profile, and, 3) Apply for Certification based on Eligibility.

The APEX Accelerators program focuses on building a strong, sustainable, and resilient U.S. supply chains by assisting a wide range of businesses that pursue and perform under contracts with the Department of Defense (DoD), other federal agencies, state and local governments and with government prime contractors. During the webinar, Mr. Orosco demonstrated how business owners could navigate the government website to get certified and register their business for contracting opportunities.

Fair Chance, is supported in part by the American Rescue Plan Program, and is a workforce program to pair job seekers seeking re-entry and small business owners. Participating businesses strengthen their workforce to be diverse, equitable, inclusive and qualify for tax credits and financial off-sets for training used by employers when hiring Fair Chance participants. According to Nenette Zabala, Fair Chance Manager, about 70% of employers with Diversity and Inclusion hiring goals, are not aware of Fair Chance and the financial incentives for Small Business Owners.

LALCC Small Business owners who want to expand their business with government contracts, are encouraged to learn the process by watching this webinar available on the LALCC website. If you missed the Live webinar, a recorded version is available at the LALCC website at www.lalcc.org